VLADIVOSTOK: December 2, 2013Metropolitan Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorsk Sends Thanks to the President of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

From the Editors: On December 2, 2013 , His Eminence Metropolitan Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorsk sent a letter of gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The following is a translation of the text:

To His Eminence Hilarion,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Your Eminence, Dear Vladyka!

The Primorsk Metropoliate of the Russian Orthodox Church sends heartfelt thanks to you for the opportunity to venerate the great Russian holy image, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign.”

Thousands of people were able to bow in prayer before the miracle-working image and beseech the Queen of Heaven for Her great mercies for themselves, their close ones, and for all of our God-preserved people.

Over the course of two weeks, the icon was venerated by the people of the cities of Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Ussuriisk, Arseniev, and also pilgrims from other Far Eastern cities. Including those who venerated the icon were representatives of the regional and municipal authorities.

Representatives of ROCOR participated in divine services in three cathedral cities of the Primorsk Metropoliate: Pokrovsky, Kazansky and Blagoveshchensky; they visited the monasteries of Vladivostok Diocese: St Serafim on Russky Island, Marfo-Mariinsky inVladivostok and Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery in the town of Linevichi, near Ussuriisk, and a skete under construction in Arseniev Diocese. Also, together with the clergymen of Vladivostok Diocese, they performed the first moleben in the new Transfiguration of the Lord Cathedral in Vladivostok, which is now under construction.

During their visit, the ROCOR clergymen visited the Theology and Religion Department in the new campus of the Far-East Federal University on Russky Island; met with journalists of federal and regional television stations and press, with members of Primoriye socity, students of Vladivostok Theological School, and in Nakhodka Diocese, with the descendants of Russian emigres from Australia who have repatriated to the town of Khmyolovka.

I wish you, dear Vladyka, and all your flock, peace, health and the intercession of the Mother of God, the holy icon of Whom is preserved within the Russian Church.